Smart Cruisers Stay On Board On Port Days More Than Ever. Here’s Why

I noticed that more cruisers than ever are staying on board their cruise ship rather than getting off in ports to self-explore or go on excursions. With many changes in ports and on ships in recent years, I too have started remaining on board in more ports too.

There were even two cruises in the last year where I did not get off the ship in any port at all! What is going on? And why and when should you also make the smart choice to stay on board in port?

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ABOUT TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS: If you want to get cruising right, Tips For Travellers makes it easy to plan and have the incredible cruise experiences you dream of every time. All my Tips For Travellers advice, tips and tricks tips draw on everything that I have learnt on the 101 cruises I have done to date.

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00:00 Start
00:36 Risky Ports
01:56 Little To Offer Ports
04:26 Overwhelmed Ports
05:54 Unwelcoming Ports
06:50 Getting Package Value
09:16 Budget
10:00 Ship Destination

[terryfromsouthcarolina]

My wife and I have been on 8 cruises. We are limited to the east coast of the states because of her medical problems. We have departed from Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville and Miami. With the exception of Charleston and Miami the others are multiple times.
The first cruises we did the excursions and for the most part were great. Expensive but great. I bought my wife her real diamond wedding ring in Freeport for our 30th anniversary.
We go on a cruise now for the cruise. We have done all the sightseeing that we want and just enjoy the laid back port days.
Sadly my sailing bride is no more, passing just over a year ago. I'm not sure it will have the same appeal anymore but I will go when I am able. It may be too bittersweet with memories.
Only time will tell.
Cheers
Terry

[PaulK]

I met one experienced cruiser who worked out a smart compromise- she stayed on board until around noon, so she was able to use the pool & sun deck and have a light lunch, while also avoiding queues for the shuttle bus on departure. She'd often ask people who were returning from port to give tips on their experiences that day!

[robertenglund]

The growing antagonism toward day-trippers from cruises is because the day-trippers represent more cost & friction than revenue to the host cities. If you want to preserve the option of day trips in popular cities from big cruise ships, consider these two things: (1) Be considerate of the host city and citizens. You may only be there for a day but your impression lasts a lifetime. Leave only footprints. Take only pictures. (2) Support the local economy. Spend money. The primary reason these places welcome tourists is because they want to prosper. We all do. Share the prosperity.

[BestStockStrategy]

Staying on board during port days are the most relaxing cruise days!

[PuenteAJ]

Thank you Gary, I learned from a recent cruise that it is possible to get excursion exhausted. To go out every day on long excursions is exhausting and expensive.

[cruisingforone]

Oh dear, now my secret is out, lol. I just love enjoying the ship with fewer people. I tell everyone how great the port is and encourage them to see everything they can. ;)

[MadeNCda]

Hi Gary, I think you raised excellent points and for me, the idea of extracting as much value as you can from the pkg price you paid by staying on the ship makes a lot of sense.

[willynorris]

Ocho Rios is a port that can get sketchy fast! You don’t have to walk far from the ship, and suddenly find yourself being swarmed.
Great advise all around…thanks for the great tips once again!

[ericericson]

As veterans of 40+ cruises, my wife and I have "Been There, Done That" and bought all the tee shirts, so now we stay on board when in port. It is like having our own private yacht, with a couple hundred people to wait on us. We will be going to St. Barts this November and we will be getting off there. Can't miss that!

[TapewormFetus]

I’ve heard you recommend “what’s in port” before but I hadn’t checked it out until now. It’s a great resource! My partner and I are going on a cruise through Asia and we know very little about the ports we are stopping in, particularly in Vietnam. This website was super helpful for making the decision to book excursions or stay on the ship.

[colin.d]

Great advice - over tourism has become a real problem though the ever increasing size of cruise ships just adds to the problem.

[kelsiewilson]

We loved our cruise to Norway and never felt unwanted.

[rickh]

My wife an I increasingly stay on board the ship. We have been to all the ports, several times each and the ships are more and more becoming the destination. We do get off the ship at the cruise lines private beaches/islands. Just having a relaxing beach day.

[ulrich]

„The ship is the destination it‘s own.“ That’s it! Thank you for all your very informative contributes on cruises. Your reviews moved me to book a Carrabean cruise on Europa 2. And I am very looking forward to it espacially with respect to days on sea…

[michaelme]

I can understand having to stay onboard if it’s dangerous not to. I don’t understand it ever being a good thing. The benefit of traveling by ship is seeing different places without having to pack/unpack several times. I don’t see the point if I don’t get to experience anything of the destination.

[geoffreystone]

Cruise companies used to provide free shuttles into port destinations. On a recent Princess cruise to Alaska passengers had to fork out USD15 for a 10 minute bus ride to Victoria. There are no taxis or Uber !

[RTViperman]

we got off the ship in Cozumel to get some of those delicious fish tacos at the end of the pier and while we were waiting for our tacos 3 local men were standing behind us when the wife said come on lets go to the ship. Stunned i said ok and when we turned to walk a woman got in my wifes face and started yelling at her in spanish. Well my wife is Puerto Rican and returned the favor with a lot more heat. On the way back to the ship she told me that they were talking about robbing us. Never again.

[lingham]

I don’t think I would bother going on cruises with ports that were problematic. If I have to stay on board, I don’t think its worth it. I don’t mind a sea day to relax and recover but not more than is absolutely necessary. Relaxing in a cabana is my idea of being bored to death. I am in my 70s. I would imagine that the younger crowd would only find benefits to remaining on board in order to get smashed.

[daveduffy]

For me the point of the cruise is to stop at places I haven’t seen. I want to go ashore and explore.

[texasboy]

We are in our middle 70’s and have been to 57 countries. We are finding staying on board or limited visits is the way to go for us. Most of the ports have been visited before.